‘Tough times require tough measures‘ is a phrase I can imagine my grandparents repeating. But it’s 2020 now. Does the solution for recovering from COVID19 have to be tough and gloomy?
The coronavirus has truly put us through something that none of us have ever experienced. A reasonably voluntary lock down and self-isolation, closed borders, and cities stopped on their tracks.
Who could ever have predicted this?! This situation is completely unprecedented and thus what will happen after all of this is just as unfathomable.
But human kind has struggled before! My generation, and all those after me, are the first generations that have NEVER had to struggle. And I’ve got good news for you: if our grandparents survived the wars, recovering from COVID19 can be done!
This pandemic literally forced us to slow down big time. And that’s exactly what the planet and our climate has needed us to do for decades. We’ve had to take a hard look into the mirror (for us single dwellers, that has been our sole human contact).
Many of us have realized that the way we have lived cannot go on. For some that means realizing that they do not want to return to the work they have. For others this has been an opportunity to look back at their consumption habits.
Climate-KIC, a European knowledge and innovation community aspiring to find greener life solutions for all, has taken a look at how our professional lives may change in the future in this article.
But on top of work life, the way we go about our everyday lives may be in for some big changes. Could embracing minimalism help us wade the unknown waters after the pandemic?
Could Minimalism Be The Solution For Recovering From COVID19
What is Minimalism?
Minimalism is often thought of as a trend for the privileged, in other words rich people. But it really isn’t that. Also, minimalism doesn’t mean living in a hospital-clean and blindingly white, empty apartment.
Like we humans often do, we have exaggerated and compartmentalized minimalism as an extreme lifestyle that most of us cannot reach, even if we wanted to. I want to correct this notion, and explain why we should all, if not become minimalists, embrace the idea of it at least.
So, what is minimalism, really?
Owning fewer possessions
Minimalism DOES encourage you to tune down the amount of stuff that you own. We tend to keep weird mementos, like notebooks from our primary school days, that bring us no value whatsoever. Is it really necessary to keep them hanging around?
Just going through your wardrobe would help. You’ll quickly realize what an amazing array of beautiful clothes you have, and how you don’t need anything new for a while. When money is tight, this realization will lessen the amount of money worries very quickly.
Freedom from the pressure to possess
The system that we live in is called ‘capitalism’. And capitalism means that we need to buy to keep the system going. Buy, even when we don’t need to buy.
Over-consumption has been a big environmental problem for decades and now it’s evolved into a climate crisis. We are literally killing the planet, and ourselves with it, by obeying the capitalist rule. Why would we allow such a useless -ism to rule us?
A minimalistic way to shopping is to ask yourself 2 quick questions before going to the counter: 1) Do I need this? 2) Does this bring me any value? Don’t buy it just for the sake of buying.
Intentionality
Minimalism is a lifestyle choice that each of us has to make for ourselves. And that choice is often driven by our will to do better in life for ourselves as well as for others.
It may sound exhausting to think that for every decision you make, you have to think about how that decision affects others. But it actually isn’t. All you need to do is just stop for a second. Long enough to ask yourself “do I need this? Does this bring me any value?”
And then realizing that actually, even if buying that more expensive loaf of bread doesn’t necessarily bring you more value than a taste experience, you are helping out a small business by buying it. A small business that is probably struggling after the pandemic.
And that gives you value that you won’t find in a supermarket.
It’s healthier
Consumerism went on a whole new level when modern manias, like Black Fridays and such, were introduced. You are bombarded with messages that this is the thing to do because everybody’s in on it! You are purposefully made to feel pressure if you try to opt out from participating.
Cue, FOMO. It’s not just a trendy word, it is an intentionally built marketing tactic. And oh boy, hasn’t it worked the trick!
These modern manias have been proven so many times to cause actual physical damage, but more importantly, mental damage. As if we needed any more mental health issues in our lives, eh? We must replace consumerism with mindful consumption, where quality comes before quantity. For all of our sakes.
Appreciation
Minimalism is all about recognizing that what you have already is enough. For many of us, more than enough. And then learning to appreciate what you have. We can never be happy unless we learn to appreciate the life that we have and all the little things in it.
You can start this process, again, from your wardrobe. Go through everything in there and find whole new outfits by mixing and matching garments. By doing so, you’ll realize that you don’t actually need anything new. This is your first step towards a more mindful way of consuming.
How Could Minimalism Be The Solution for Recovering From COVID19
Spending more time at home is the new normal
Many of us have become estranged from the people closest to us because work and the figurative ‘success’ goes ahead of everything. The societal pressure has forced us to put work ahead of real, proper fulfillment in life.
And now, when we suddenly found ourselves stuck with our kids and husbands, we found ourselves struggling. But we ploughed through, found new routines and realized how much we actually love and need the company of those closest to us.
We don’t want to spend 10 hours a day at the office, only seeing our children awake during weekends. No, that’s not a sacrifice worth doing! Family and friends MUST come before work. In terms of minimalism, putting family and friends first is intentional, healthier, and a way to show appreciation.
The nature of work changes
Minimalism as a solution for recovering from COVID19 in work life is just what we need. It ties together with the previous point about ‘family over work‘.
Work has been consuming us for too long, burnouts have become the new normal, and well-being has been in decline everywhere while the amount of work has increased.
Now we’ve noticed that an office is not always a necessity in getting the job done. Office spaces are extremely expensive in big cities and, particularly for smaller companies, they don’t necessarily bring any extra value. Home office can be much cheaper and just as productive.
Is this the moment we minimize the office space costs but still maximize the productivity?
Many take a second look at their consuming habits
The amount of joblessness after this pandemic will be shocking. So many companies have already gone bankrupt and more are collapsing every day. Without a regular salary our consumerism meets a whole new challenge: inability to shop mindlessly.
We need to think more carefully what we can afford, and what can wait. What do we actually need, and what is just indulgence. All of a sudden something like clothes shopping becomes immaterial. We only buy what we need.
This kind of consuming has a name: mindfulness. Minimalist consuming where we only buy the necessary. Believe it or not, in the long run this sort of consuming is better for you financially as well as mentally.
We start questioning the norms
One conversation that I have already seen gaining attention, is the conversation around the unfairness of executive bonuses and dividends being paid while companies fire and lay off their employees.
Our sense of justice, of course, says that if they can pay that much money out of the company, they should instead use it to keep the employees on.
Globalization has helped a lot of poor people around the world to raise from poverty. But at the same time it has ensured that the rich get richer, and the pay gaps get wider.
In crisis like the COVID19 pandemic the difference between the rich and the poor is so noticeable, that many find the situation unfair beyond any measure. People should be equal, no matter what you earn. You deserve the same, outstanding healthcare that someone richer than you does.
Money does not equal our worth as human beings. Will recovering from COVID19 bring with it demands for more equality and better rights for all?
The solution for recovering from COVID19 can’t be anything too challenging. Otherwise we would never have a chance.
Embracing even a little bit of minimalism in our lives can seriously be just the thing we, and the planet, need! It’s easy, can be done today, and will help you cope on so many levels.
Can you see any big shifts happening in your life after the pandemic? Will you be a more mindful shopper, or would you like to see healthcare to be available for all, not the few? Or will it just be business as usual? Let’s discuss! ♥
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